Saratoga County Clerk Kathy Marchione declared her candidacy early Saturday, pushed by Republicans in her hometown of Halfmoon, and others in the party disappointed over McDonald, R-Saratoga. Specifically, they point to votes last year to renew an income tax surcharge on New Yorkers reporting over $1 million in earnings and to legalize same-sex marriage — even after McDonald, the former Wilton town supervisor, said he would repeat his 2009 vote against gay weddings.

Marchione enters the race after Assemblyman Steve McLaughlin, R-Schagthicoke, opted against a challenge last week. He flirted with a run and received encouragement from some Republicans and members of the Conservative Party.

"I'm talking with a lot of people and I'm testing the water," said Marchione. "I really believe that it's time to bring the consistent conservative voice back to Albany ... which means that when I go to Albany and pledge to my district that I'm not going to raise taxes, I won't. That I won't vote for gerrymandered district lines in the middle of the night. That I won't vote for gay marriage when I pledged I wouldn't."

Marchione is most known for her role in the 2007 debate over issuing driver's licenses to undocumented immigrants, a proposal of then-Gov. Eliot Spitzer. Marchione was a vocal opponent, and said would refuse to issue the licenses even if it meant removal from her post. She was first elected in 1997.

After postponing once, Saratoga County Republicans met Saturday morning at the Wilton Elks lodge, where a resolution to bless McDonald was proffered. Several chairs moved to table it, citing Marchione's nascent candidacy.

"We've always espoused that we're the big tent party. I don't subscribe to the bosses of the party telling us who the candidates should be," said Clifton Park Republican Chairman Brian Telesh.

A dispute erupted at the meeting over whether Telesh should even be afforded a vote: McDonald currently represents the populous suburb, as well as most of the eastern towns in the county, but new lines adopted last week shift McDonald east and south, with Clifton Park moving into the district now represented by Sen. Hugh Farley, R-Niskayuna.

"Depending on who votes, it's going to be a big deal," said Wilton Republican Chairman Scott Kingsley, who backs McDonald even as the Republican committee in his town voted against him.

Marchione will now begin McDonald took it all in stride. Last week, he was awarded the backing of the Independence Party, which was expected.

"The Republicans haven't endorsed anyone. I think right now people want me doing my job, and the politics will follow," he said. "I run positive campaigns, people know that, and everywhere I go people talk about economics."